FILE PHOTO: MMDA chairman Abalos with San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora

With the improving condition of COVID-19 infection in Metro Manila, Chairman Benhur Abalos of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) hopes for a looser Alert Level 3 quarantine for the National Capital Region next month.

Abalos said he hopes that the situation in Metro Manila would further improve on the second week of the implementation of pilot Alert Level 4, scheduled to end on September 30.

The five – alert level virus response strategy with granular lockdown is being piloted in the heavily virus hit Metro Manila, as replacement to the less effective Enhance Community Quarantine (ECQ) being implemented by the national government.

“’Yung reproduction rate, ito mismo galing sa OCTA, from a high of 1.90 nung August 8, bumaba nun Sept. 4 ng 1.39, 1.03 nung Sept 22. Nakikita natin ‘yung pababa apo nito. Maski ‘yung growth rate ng 1-week nag-negative na nga rin kaya maganda po ang indikasyon. Sana po by the end of the one-week pa mag-alert level 3 na po ang Metro Manila,” Abalos said.

Malacañang on Friday released amended guidelines in the pilot implementation of Alert Level 4 in Metro Manila. Some amendments will take effect starting Oct. 1 should Metro Manila remain under Alert Level 4.

“Ang nangyari po ngayon apat lang halos na negosyo ang bukas. Ang restaurants natin na may 10 percent sa loob at 30 percent sa outdoor, ating mga barberya, hair spa, nail salon at saka simbahan. Kung mag-a-alert level 3, halos lahat po 30 percent na ng capacity. Madadagdagan pa ang ating negosyo,” Abalos said.

The MMDA chief said that it is hard to calibrate health and the economy.

“Sa basehan na nakikita natin ngayon, sana naman, tingin ko kaya na nating mag-alert level 3 by the end of the week. ‘Yun ang pinagtatrabahuhan natin lahat ngayon,” he said.

Abalos believes that the improvement in COVID-19 indicators are not only the effect of granular lockdowns in different areas, but also the result of previous implementations of stricter quarantine measures and more people getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

As of Friday, the Philippines has logged a total of 2,453,328 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 18,659 new cases.